COURSE DESCRIPTION: All racing will occur in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts in the waters roughly offshore of Old Silver Beach, North Falmouth, MA. All courses will be posted on the official Notice Board and described and discussed at each morning’s competitors’ meeting on the beach. Windsurfing courses may include upwind and downwind with course shapes and distances determined in part by conditions. SUP courses will vary in distance and shape with the intention of running at least one race of approximately four (4) miles per day (remaining a “short” course) with “sprint” style courses the norm. Course shapes are expected to include slalom, closed-loop bouy courses and “out and back.” Both Windsurfing and SUP should expect Le Mans-style beach starts, standing starts from the water as well as start lines over deep water and may use the same courses as each other yet separately.

RULES: Windsurfers are expected to obey traditional windsurfing racing rule and each sailor shall exonerate him or herself if having fouled another competitor. Protests under the ISAF 2013-2016 Racing Rules of Sailing Part 2, including Appendix B may be accepted at the sole and absolute discretion of the Race Director and his determination, if any, shall be final. No further part of the Racing Rules shall apply. Fair sailing is fun sailing.

Paddlers are expected to obey the traditional paddling rules pertaining to rights of way and contact. However, the Buzzards Bay Crossing does NOT incorporate the World Paddle Association 2013 SUP Racing Rulebook except to define SUP classes as set forth below. Any protest against another paddler may be accepted at the sole and absolute discretion of the Race Director and his determination, if any, shall be final.

SCORING CLASSES, DIVISIONS and EQUIPMENT:

United States Coast Guard equipment requirements apply. All competitors thirteen (13) years of age and under regardless of class or category MUST wear a USCG Approved PFD at all times when on the water. SUP competitors must also comply with USCG regulations including PFD. Additionally all SUP competitors shall carry a whistle and be attached to their board by a leash when on the water.

Eddie also has a wide variety of boards that can be used for light wind. They are beginner boards like the Bic Nova but they can be a hoot in light wind for everyone. Different desires between the sort of racing or competition styles and intensity always exists among people. I've seen it all and raced on nearly every type of board in a wide range of conditions, from wooden booms and 35 knots to FW in 5 knots. Fun and challenging usually is what we make it. Heck, if a windsurfer wants to race a SUP for a while or vice versa, I'm in favor of that, too!

A wide variety of courses can be expected but we will work together to offer what's best for the field and try not to be too rigid. That's why only Part 2 (When Boats Come Together) and Appendix B (Windsurfing rules) apply. We encourage fair racing, self-correction for any infractions and hope formal protests do not occur.

I hope a local contingent of longboard racers joins us. If so, we will run some traditional upwind/downwind/triangles for sure. But longboards can do slalom or other more funky courses more "fun" or less traditional.

We should also get to see some custom racing SUPs and some elite paddlers, too. I'm looking forward to the SUP side of things nearly as much as the windsurfing side! So bring your paddles and boards, too!_________________Support Your Sport. Join US Windsurfing!
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